Best Surka Podcasts (2024)

1
Disparities in cancer care | Philly break dancing 40:15

4d ago40:15

40:15

We’ve seen tremendous progress in diagnosing and treating cancer, but not all people have benefited from that progress equally. The American Association for Cancer Research recently released their 2024 Cancer Disparities Progress Report, which highlights gaps in diagnoses, treatment, and outcomes for people in marginalized groups. What is being don…

1
Youth empowerment through international travel | West Philly birding 39:07

11d ago39:07

39:07

The experience of traveling to a different part of the world can be life-changing, but many people don’t get that opportunity because of the cost. A new initiative called Invest in Human Potential aims to take five young Black men from Philadelphia on a two-week trip to Sardinia, Italy, and empower them with the skills to become social justice warr…

1
A Juneteenth dance celebration | The “Love Letter” mural challenge 42:46

19d ago42:46

42:46

A Philadelphia performing arts organization is celebrating Juneteenth with a twist on an old tradition: the house party. Running June 20 - 22, Intercultural Journeys’ “The Re-Emancipation of Social Dance” is an interactive party-performance through five “living rooms”, inviting you to reclaim the freedom of dance. We talk with the show’s curator an…

1
Women Against Abuse | LGBTQ+ exhibit at The Fabric Museum 44:50

26d ago44:50

44:50

More than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Women Against Abuse aims to help domestic violence victims of all genders by providing shelters, counseling, legal services, and safety planning. Executive Director Joanna Otero-Cruz joins us along with b…

1
Teaching kids self-acceptance | “A Great Day in Philly” 33:25

1M ago33:25

33:25

Author Susanne Munn of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, says her neurodivergent son had a hard time fitting in. She wrote a poem to help him celebrate himself, and 10 years later, she’s releasing that poem as a children’s book with the help of her friend and illustrator, Amy Towers. Susanne and Amy tell us about “The Great Shape Debate”. Plus Kim Wheeler P…

1
Living with sickle cell disease | Majestic Jumpers 46:01

1M ago46:01

46:01

Tahirah Austin-Muhammad was diagnosed with sickle cell disease when she was six years old. Throughout her life, she has dealt with pain and organ failures - she’s currently on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, living on 7% kidney function. Despite that, she is raising a daughter and has helped found Crescent Foundation to provide education …

1
Teens and social media | The Howell Park “Grandma” tree 45:39

2M ago45:39

45:39

For many teens and tweens, social media is everything. It’s how they connect with friends and with the broader world - but there are a lot of dangers online. How can parents keep their kids safe from things like predators and bullying on the internet? PA State Representative Brian Munroe worked with three teenagers to write a bill that just passed …

1
Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania | The Curtis Building 50:39

2M ago50:39

50:39

The government must provide attorneys for defendants who can’t afford to hire one. Until last year, funding for those public defenders in Pennsylvania came entirely from the counties. Now, the state has set a $7.5 million budget to fund indigent defense, but public defenders’ offices are still underfunded and their staff is overworked. We speak wit…

1
Burning $2 million in medical debt on Walmart pier 24:07

2M ago24:07

24:07

Anyone who has had medical debt could tell you how unexpected and crippling it can be. What's worse, that debt can even follow your family after you die. But a group of queer activists in Philadelphia found a loophole in the system. With the help of Undue Medical Debt, they bought and forgave $2 million of medical debt, and they celebrated it in a …

1
Philly BOLT | The Free Library of Philadelphia's unusual collections 34:11

2M ago34:11

34:11

2024 KYW GameChanger Hillary Do created the non-profit BOLT (Build Our Lives Together) to support community grassroots organizations with tools, grants and knowledge to bring about change. She introduces us to Cleopatra Robinson of A Home from Shana Foundation, who is working to lower the rate of Black maternal mortality in Philadelphia, and Ron To…

1
Gift of Life Donor Program at 50 | Maple Grove Raceway 36:24

2M ago36:24

36:24

For fifty years, Gift of Life Donor Program has helped organ and tissue recipients off the transplant wait list with their growing donation network. Five years after North Philly rapper and hip-hop recording artist Freeway received a kidney, he's raising awareness about routine physicals and organ donation with his music and Freedom Thinkers Academ…

1
2024 PA primary & general election | Alexey Brodovitch: Astonish Me 38:51

3M ago38:51

38:51

Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Al Schmidt clears up myths and realities of voting, including automatic voter registration, mail-in voting, and protections for voters and election workers. Then, Barnes Foundation’s assistant curator Corrinne Chong leads a tour of the 20th-century artist who inspired commercial art at the exhibit “Alex…

1
Au Pairs as childcare | Great on Skates 33:04

3M ago33:04

33:04

As childcare wait lists grow, many busy families are opening their homes to a young person from another country as an affordable care alternative. Cultural Care Au Pair’s Natalie Jordan describes their multi-step screening process and cultural exchange benefits. Then, the number of people roller skating has increased since the pandemic, and Great O…

1
PA School funding | Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books 36:22

3M ago36:22

36:22

How can Pennsylvania public school students who live in a lower-income school district receive an equitable and adequate education like their affluent counterparts? Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes and education advocate Priyanka Reyes-Kaura discuss how state legislators must work with Governor Shapiro and his budget proposal to invest in …

1
Evoluer House | Girls Auto Clinic 40:59

3M ago40:59

40:59

Former fashion editor Cheryl Ann Wadlington has been mentoring urban girls to rise above their circumstances to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty for 20 years at Evoluer House with workforce, professional and personal development programs. Then, engineer Patrice Banks leads a tour of her Girls Auto Clinic in Upper Darby – an auto repair …

1
Marian Anderson Hall | Restoring Marian Anderson's home 36:19

4M ago36:19

36:19

Marian Anderson Hall will soon be the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. President and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Kimmel Center, Matias Tarnopolsky, explains how updating the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall should reflect the diversity and demographics of Philadelphia. Then, a tour of the repair and restoration of the Marian Anderson Museu…

1
Colman Domingo and Da’Vine Joy Randolph rep Philadelphia and Temple at the 2024 Oscars 21:58

4M ago21:58

21:58

We're about to have a golden opportunity to see Philadelphians shine on a global scale: at the 2024 Academy Awards. Colman Domingo, born in West Philly, is nominated for Best Actor for his performance in "Rustin", and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, from Mount Airy, is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Holdovers". Both are Temple University grad…

1
PA Youth Vote | Legacy Reclaimed: A 7th Ward Tribute 48:23

4M ago48:23

48:23

PA Youth Votes’ Angelique Hinton, Kamryn Davis and a high school senior explain how they engage future leaders with education and events programming to connect the dots between the issues they care about, voting, and holding elected officials accountable. Then, artists and curators lead a tour of the collective public art initiative, “Legacy Reclai…

1
Young Chances Foundation | Preserving Mother Bethel AME Church 45:55

4M ago45:55

45:55

South Philly’s Tyrique Glasgow shares his story about owning his South Philly neighborhood drug corner at 12 to founding the Young Chances Foundation, which provides a clothing bank, educational and feeding programs, and school supplies. Then, Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler describes how a $90,000 National Trust for Historic Preservation grant to help prese…

1
Art for all 33:41

4M ago33:41

33:41

Fine art should be experienced by all people, according to philanthropic Philadelphia art collector Albert C. Barnes. The Barnes Foundation's Martha Lucy leads a tour of modern art and African masks, demonstrating the founder's legacy of accessible and diverse arts education. Lucy has edited a new book, "The Barnes Then and Now: Dialogues on Educat…

1
Flaming chairs and hardcore heroes: the extreme story of Philly pro wrestling 34:52

4M ago34:52

34:52

The biggest event in professional wrestling is coming to Philadelphia in just a few weeks. Join super fans and KYW Newsradio staffers Andre Bennett and Tim Jimenez for this ode to the audacious; a love letter to legends of the squared circle; an appreciation for how Philly became the home of hardcore wrestling and left an indelible mark and legacy …

1
Are you ready for love? | Little Free(dom) Library 31:52

5M ago31:52

31:52

Is everyone ready for love? A relationship coach and a social worker discuss the humility, inspiration and personal growth it takes to make heterosexual, same-sex, and non-traditional couples last. Then, taking and leaving banned books by Black authors at Visit Philly's 13 Little Free(dom) Libraries. To learn more about listener data and our privac…

1
Presenting "Ricochet", from Gone Cold: Philadelphia Unsolved Murders 27:11

5M ago27:11

27:11

Introducing a new project from another KYW Newsradio Original Podcast - "Ricochet" is a mini-series from Gone Cold: Philadelphia Unsolved Murders that examines the gun violence crisis in our country through stories of unsolved shootings in Philadelphia. In the first episode, we talk with Joan Ortiz, whose 2-year-old daughter Nikolette was shot and …

1
Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters | The Colored Girl Museum lives on 33:44

5M ago33:44

33:44

Philadelphia’s civil rights movement included the Cecil B. Moore Freedom Fighters, the "young militants" who protested and helped desegregate Girard College, which was a school intended for “poor, white male orphans.” We hear stories of police harassment and songs of freedom from the former teenagers who followed their leader and Philadelphia NAACP…

1
NJ's doula access law | The Lullaby Project 32:05

5M ago32:05

32:05

Tammy Murphy, First Lady of New and U.S. Senate candidate, describes the new state law that protects a mother’s right to a doula throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Then, creating a deeper bond between parents and young children through music with the Philadelphia Lullaby Project. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices …

1
Pa. House Speaker Joanna McClinton | Youth America Grand Prix 38:15

5M ago38:15

38:15

Pa. Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton looks back on the successes and challenges of her first year as the first woman and the first person of color to hold the gavel. With a razor-thin majority, Speaker McClinton negotiated tax credits for working families’ daycare expenses, violence reduction programs, and a public defender fund. Then, Philly …

1
Urban Navigation | MLK’s legacy of social justice 36:52

6M ago36:52

36:52

Co-founders Don Jackson and Hameen Diggins describe their community organization Urban Navigation as a GPS for urban youth that points the next generation of non-shooters towards gun education and technician training in the inner city and Philadelphia suburbs. Then, this year is the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and Global Citizen’s Fou…

1
Benefits of Dry January | The Philly Goat Project 45:59

6M ago45:59

45:59

Dry January has become an annual international event inspiring all kinds of drinkers to leave the bottles on the shelf for 31 days. The market for mocktails, non-alcohol spirits, wines and beer is growing, and there are "safe spaces" for those who choose not to drink, but still want to be social. We learn about the benefits of temporary abstaining …

1
Bridging Philly 2023 Highlights 36:06

6M ago36:06

36:06

Bridging Philly Host and Executive Producer Racquel Williams, "Shara in the City” Reporter Shara Dae Howard, and Producer Patty McMahon look back at their favorite guests and topics from 2023. Segments include Cambodian refugee-turned-Secret-Service officer Leth Oun, FarmerJawn's urban agriculture, and a road trip to Ocean City, N.J. to meet the fa…

1
Philly holiday food traditions | Black & Brown-owned small biz shopping 33:09

6M ago33:09

33:09

Have you eaten catfish and waffles? Turtle soup? As we now enjoy an enormous variety of food, these dishes are part of Philly’s culinary history. Origins of the city’s food traditions are rooted in the cultural melting pot that includes the African diaspora and the Pennsylvania Dutch. Chef & Culinary Educator Joy Parham and Elwood Restaurant Chef &…

1
Food as medicine | Philly's hip-hop pioneers 36:24

6M ago36:24

36:24

How do the chronically ill access the proper nutrition to get better? The Philadelphia non-profit Manna prepares and delivers medically tailored meal plans to patients with everyday conditions like cancer, heart disease and more. CEO and dietician Sue Daugherty, Thomas Jefferson University's Dr. Kristin Rising, and a client who has thrived with the…

1
This Black female cannabis pioneer is cultivating a budding industry 28:25

7M ago28:25

28:25

Recreational adult use of marijuana has been legal for over a year and a half in New Jersey, but small businesses still struggle to break into the industry, even if they were operating underground before. Sabrina Boyd-Surka visits the first Black, woman-owned cannabis manufacturing business in Delaware and the first independent edibles brand on she…

1
Aging together | The Arden's BFG (Big Friendly Giant) 39:13

7M ago39:13

39:13

The Golden Years are not as bright as promised. Many seniors have reduced income, and health issues, are often full-time caretakers for their grandchildren, and increasingly experience social isolation and loneliness. For 40 years, the Philadelphia non-profit SOWN has helped older adults age together with peer support so that no one has to be alone…

1
Holiday manners & etiquette | The Colored Girls Museum 45:02

7M ago45:02

45:02

Are your table manners ready for holiday parties in friends’ homes or out in restaurants? From knowing who and what to tip to bringing a gift to a host, Founder and Director of the Delaware Valley School of Etiquette, Dorlisa Goodrich Young, and longtime hospitality worker and artist, Jere Edmonds, guide us through the skills to avoid social embarr…

1
The Torah, gender barriers, and new traditions 28:14

7M ago28:14

28:14

When Bec Richman started out in rabbinical school, she felt lost. What was she going to do with herself? Then, her vision became clear: she wanted to learn how to scribe. The only problem was, tradition stood in her way. According to Jewish law, only men could be scribes, but Rabbi Bec and other non-male aspiring scribes like her worked around the …

1
Grief, gratitude & the holidays | A WWII veteran looks back on his service 42:56

7M ago42:56

42:56

The holidays bring families together but often remind us of those missing at the table. How can we prepare for these difficult times? Naila Francis, a death doula and grief guide, recommends the bereaved give themselves a break. And Ravina Daphtary describes an art installation in Philly’s Rail Park where visitors can "call" a lost loved one on a d…

1
Focus on Fathers | Wicked turns 20 33:22

7M ago33:22

33:22

The Focus on Fathers parenting education program shows new fathers how to have positive relationships with their kids. The “fathers to the fathers” try to fill in the gaps of men raised without a strong male father figure with child development education, job readiness, and mental health awareness with remote and in-person classes. Then, the Broadw…

1
John Legend | PA cannabis | Murals & Movement 42:04

8M ago42:04

42:04

The new HBO documentary Stand Up & Shout: Songs From a Philly High School explores the transformative power of music and how an arts education can be a source of hope and healing. Executive producer, Grammy award-winning musician John Legend - with executive producer Mike Jackson, and director Amy Schatz - worked with teenagers from Philly’s Hill-F…

1
A hero’s story: Remembering Michael Crescenz 19:50

8M ago19:50

19:50

In honor of Veterans Day, we’re revisiting the story of Michael Crescenz, a man who gave his life to save his fellow soldiers in the Vietnam War. He was the only Philadelphian to receive a Medal of Honor for that war, and his family and friends have done everything they could to make sure he’s remembered - from putting up a statue to renaming the V…

1
STEM games for kids | Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee 27:23

8M ago27:23

27:23

Meet Steve the Legacy: a Philly-based inventor who develops STEM-inspired games to help kids develop their coordination and strategy skills that he creates in his living room factory. He shares how other amateur inventors can take an 'ah ha' moment to the next level by believing in themselves. Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee came through…

1
Live to See the Day | What Philly wants in their 100th mayor 41:13

8M ago41:13

41:13

Author and sociologist Nikhil Goyal followed three students from El Centro de Estudiantes, an alternative, last-chance public high school in North Philly. The stories of their struggles with the juvenile justice system, poverty, and housing insecurity – and finally earning their high school diplomas in the face of great odds - are featured in the n…

1
The House of Poe 23:05

8M ago23:05

23:05

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most classic horror and mystery writers of all time. We see countless re-creations of his stories around Halloween - like the new Netflix series “The Fall of the House of Usher”. Poe lived in Philadelphia for six years, which are said to be the happiest and most productive time of his life. He published 31 stories in t…

1
Mayoral candidates David Oh & Cherelle Parker 1:02:42

8M ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Mayoral candidates Democrat Cherelle Parker and Republican David Oh share their visions to improve public safety and raise Philadelphians’ quality of life. They both share stories of humble beginnings that inform their future policy decisions. Election Day to choose the city’s 100th mayor is November 7th. To learn more about listener data and our p…

1
"Mural City" - When art clashes with development 28:57

8M ago28:57

28:57

For many Philadelphians, the Painted Bride mosaic that covers an entire building on Vine St. has become a piece of the city’s identity, embedded with images and memories of the local art community. But as of October 2023, it’s being taken apart, and the building will soon be demolished to make way for a new mixed-use building. The artist, Isaiah Za…

1
The power of Philly sports fans 41:54

9M ago41:54

41:54

We celebrate the power of Philadelphia sports fans united by their shared love for their teams despite varying views of politics, religion and race. KYW Newsradio sports reporter Dave Uram dispels the negative reputation of Eagles fans, and shares superfan anecdotes and common Game Day superstitions. Then, "The Power of Fun" with the original Phill…

1
Breast Cancer survivors' stories of hope 27:24

9M ago27:24

27:24

Host Racquel Williams and four breast cancer survivors share their unique journeys from the terrifying first time they were told of their diagnosis, through the exhausting treatments, to mentoring new patients. A doctor, also a survivor, explains different types of cancers, dispels treatment myths, and urges securing the right medical team. The gro…

1
Prison escapes from Eastern State 32:34

9M ago32:34

32:34

During two weeks in September, the Philadelphia area was gripped by a dramatic, unpredictable, and unnerving manhunt for a convicted killer. Residents impacted by the search wanted answers: how did Danilo Cavalcante escape from Chester County Prison, and where did he go? For nearly 150 years, one of Philadelphia’s most popular neighborhoods lived u…

1
Mark Dial charges dropped | Pollinator Power 38:50

9M ago38:50

38:50

Our first Bridging Philly Reporters’ Roundtable features the KYWNewsradio coverage of the charges dropped against Philadelphia Police Detective Mark Dial, who fatally shot Eddie Irizarry. Reporters Kristen Johansen, Tim Jimenez and Gina Pompilio describe what they saw and heard in the courtroom and the reaction from Irizarry’s family. Then, behind …

1
129 - Talls And Smalls (Bronston Jones) 1:25:49

9M ago1:25:49

1:25:49

Bronston Jones joins Mike Vecchione and together they investigate Bronston adjusting to East Coast whether coming from Venice Beach, dating by height and Mike's idea to segregate by height, Mike meeting Tony Hawk, Bronston's job as a breakfast nanny, surfing terms you have to know in California, Bronston not having a home, the elderly woman who sat…

1
Law enforcement & comfort dogs | 60 years of the Philadelphia Ballet 43:16

9M ago43:16

43:16

Dogs have been part of law enforcement teams for decades, as we most recently saw with the capture of prison escapee Danelo Cavalcante. Man’s best friends are also becoming more commonly used with crisis counselors for comforting students in schools and victims of violence in the community. Members of the Penn Vet Working Dogs Center, Tri-State Can…

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